01/28/2013 Well... This could be an interesting week!

Well helloooooo people of the USA. And Argentina. And wherever you might be haha. I had another interesting week full of different stuff! Soooo I shall begin,

So here in Longavi we´ve had a big focus change in our work. I dont even know if that make sense. But basically what it means is that instead of working with investigators investigators investigators and a little bit of recent converts and menos activos, Were now working with alotttt of recent converts and menos activos and less investigators... haha. So its been interesting! But to start off, we had a noche de hogar (family night) In libeny´s house with some more recent converts... and we were going to teach a short lesson about the restauration of the gospel, then play Uno and eat some food after... Well. The food was suuuuper good, and the lesson on the restoration turned out to be realllyyyyy long... hahaha. Because Chilenos just loooooove to talk. So basically the lesson just turned out soooo long because they got into this HUGE discussion/argument about the Word of Wisdom and WHY we have the word of wisdom and HOW we have the word of wisdom and blah blah blah... haha it was VERY difficult to get them to focus... BUT. It all turned out good. So that was fun. 

On Wednesday we have a Mission Conference with President and sister Humphrey! So that was fun to see other missionaries and talk to them, to hear from president Humphrey and Sister humphrey and the assistents and other things. We learned alot and got super motivated! So thats always super good. Buttttt the conference ended up taking forever too. And by the time we got home our WHOLE day was gone haha... Super lame. We seriously got home at like 830... So we didnt get much work done on Wednesday.... Butttt

Happy Early Birthday to me!!!! Thank you so much to my parents! Because I got your packages that day! and since I knew a watch was inside.... I didnt wait this time! I just opened it all that night :) And immmm loving it. it was all fantastic!!!! woo hoooo im so excited haha. I loved all of my gifts and snacks and everything! Ive been putting them all to use and theyre fantatsic :) Thank you so much!!

So I have a funny story (with pictures) to share from Thursday. So we have this Suuuuuper long bike ride to Los Cristales everyday? Well its gotten pretty hot now! (except its been raining today... dang bipolar Chile weather) anyways so its always a killer bike ride. But so on thursday about ALMOST halfway through our bike ride.... all of a sudden this tractor that was carrying two loads of logs behind it pulled up next to us... and it was going pretty slow. But... It was going faster than us. So I just grabbed onto one of the sides of the tractor... and hitched a ride from the tractor alllll the way to Los Cristales :) hahaha. It was the best bike ride ive had in all my 5 months here in Longaví :) It was really funny and Elder Cowden and I were SO happy about it hahaha. And I was holding on to the tractor and at one point I had to switch the spot of where I was holding on, and so then there was a guy standing up next to me (you´ll see what I mean in the picture) and so I tried talking to him a bit... but he wasnt to interested in talking hahaha. But so that was a successful day just because of that haha.

And on Saturday we played a partido de baby (mini soccer game) as a branch activity at night... but not many showed up haha. But we still played and it was alot of fun! I loveeee soccer now. Im sure ive mentioned that. But Im mentioning it again haha. I cant wait to get together with all the friends and other chilean or latino missionaries after the mission and play together. Thats going to be funny hahah. 

And the last day... Sunday!! Sunday was a really fun day! First off, I forgot to mention that two weeks ago I spoke again in church. This time my talk was based off of Elder Nelson´s talk "Ask the missionaries, they can help you!". And now you know that I spoke two weeks ago... Butttt....

So how small is this world?? There is a girl here in the branch of Longaví whose girl cousin got called to Resistencia, Argentina! Mom and Dad´s mission! So this girl in the branch (Hermo is her name) told me a few weeks ago. So i knew that... but her cousin going to mom and dads mission (Laura is her name) leaves this wednesday into the MTC... But is in town this week to say bye before she goes! And she was in church yesterday and everything... So i met her and we talked a little and whatnot, and tonight were having a Noche de hogar with them and their family!!! hahaha (and some more other recent converts... Hopefully this one isnt so long haha) But how small of a world is that?? How does that even happen? hahah. So ill be sharing some photos of the family and some stories and such with them tonight. But so im really excited about that! how funny haha. We took some pictures on sunday, so Ill send one of those too. 

So that happened sunday, and also recently Ive started helping out in the primary here in the branch... Because the District Primary Leader (o como se llama?) came to help them out... but nobody had any experience with music, and had no idea what the songs they were to be singing sounded like or anything... So my "ask the missionaries, they can help!" talk has been put into use! (We´ve actually gotten alot more questions and requests for help now haha) but so they asked me for help, and now for the past 2 weeks ive been teaching Sharing and Singing time in the primary hahahaha. And its sooooo fun!! hahaha. Especially yesterday. It just felt so good to help these little primary kids out and teach them to sing and teach them these songs! hahaha Especially after i teach them the words over and over and over, and then finally we´re like "okay, were gonna sing the whole thing now!" and then we sing it... and the kids all actually sing! And it doesnt sound half bad! hahaha. I mean it sounds like any other group of primary kids singing... haha a few on key, a few off key, one or two kids just lip-syncing with everyone else, pretending to sing, all the kids decide to yell the last word of the song really loud or some other random word in the song... hahaha. It all came together! And it just made me feel really good! It felt so good to help these kids out and help out the primary here in longavi :) It was awesome. Next week Ill be doing it agian, so ill grab a picture for everyone to see haha. 

But anyway... mas que nada, that was my week! a good one! :) This potentially (and im thinking probably...) is my last week here in longavi... Cambios are next week. So itll be interesting to see what happens... Weird! Alli vemos. 

uhhhmmm but yeah! Thats all i can really think of for now... Ill send some pictures for you all to see! Im still loving everything about the mission. And I just continue to learn learn learn learn learn. haha. Thats the most amazing thing to me. How much Ive learned, how much Im still learning, and how much ill learn for foreverrrr. haha. Always progressing in life :) I love you all and miss you! Thanks for all the prayers, support, and love. Que les vaya bien! La iglesia es la iglesia verdadera de Jesucristo. Siempre tenemos la oportunidad de hablar con nuestro padre celestial por medio de la oracion. El quiere escucharnos, solo necesitamos tomar la iniciativa de hacer una oracion. Y las escrituras son las palabras de Dios, y son guias para nosotros.Que bendecidos somos para tener estas cosas en nuestras vidas. Aprovechemos de ellas!!! Les quiero mucho!!!

Con amor,
Elder Heyman

01/28/2013 Pictures!

1. My tractor ride :) hahahah best bike ride ever!!!

2. So happy haha. And that was my friend who didnt talk much haha.

3. Bienvenidos al Campo. This is a picture from on top of a bridge that crosses the freeway we took. Super cool view!

1. Theres so many presents I cant even hold them all! haha Thank you!

2. Thanks Mom and dad!

3. We always laugh about the difference in organization styles on our different sides of the rooms... hahaha

 

4. This is the hermana going to your mission mom and dad!! Hermana Laura Saalvedra or algo así?

 

5. All her family and friends that came to say bye... Super akward picture haha...

01/21/2013 Estoy sobreviviendo... No se precupen.

Welllll hello everyone! So first off, I apologize because this letter will probably be pretty dang short... But I apologize! Its a long story! But Im alive, Im loving the mission, Im learning ALOT, the work is really tough, but I´ve still got my head up and Im looking forward and continue to learn :) 

But! I at least had a few updates for you.

Right now were (trying) to teach an unmarried, co-living (why does that always happen?!) couple that seem to be really good! Well, the girl, Estefani, is really good, and Pablo, the male, is less interested in the gospel but more interested in his work and making money haha. But so theyre slowing progressing because theyre not married and still havent come to church, but it was pretty cool because the other day we showed up and estefani said "I have good news to tell you!" so we were excited and thought maybe they decided to get married hahaha. But she told us how she had had a dream and that in her dream Christ came to her and told her that she needed to go to our church and that he was happy with what she was doing! So we definitely were happy about that too :) haha and so we told her "YES. That is 110% a sign. Go to church this Sunday!" haha.... but she still failed to come :( and we dont know why. haha. BUT were working with them! 

I put my new soccer cleats to work this week and theyre awesome! I love them!! haha. I have photos. Ill make sure to send some this time! haha. 

Another super funny story from this week about Elder Cowden and bikes... hahaha

So something that I love doing on the bikes is that whenever we pass an animal, I love scaring them by swerving at them a little so they freak out haha. So the other day we were riding next to eachother, me on the left, Elder Cowden on the right, and there was a chicken on the road. Checking to see that there were no cars coming so it didnt get run over........ I swerved  at the chicken to scare it, thinking it would run even more into the road... Instead it freaks out, jumps IN FRONT OF ME so I swerve again to dodge it, but it continues running to the right... and there was innocent little Elder Cowden, happily riding his bike with no hands (which he mastered doing that the other week :) haha) and so this chicken ran at him, but he had no hands on his bike, so there was NOTHING he could do... and he just dominated the chicken and ran over it hahaha. Twice. Once with each tire hahahaha. And so we yelled and freaked out and didnt know what to do... but so we stopped and looked back and just sadly watched this chicken die. it was flopping around helpless everywhere and finally it just sadly stopped moving hahahaha. We didnt know what to do. And we felt bad. But so we went back to look at it and we think Elder Cowden must have just ran over it and broken its neck because its neck looked really weird and there wasnt too much blood anywhere else.... hahaha. oh man Elder Cowden. hahaha. So technically it was all my fault, but Elder Cowden just happened to have done the deed. hahaha

But anyway... Yeah. Thats all I can really share with everyone right now haha. I have to go now! I hope all is well, and that you know that I love you and miss you lots!!! I continue to learn SO much, and really thats my favorite part about the mission. Just how much i LEARN. haha. The church is true, the book is blue! Read it! I love you all!!

-Elder heyman

01/21/2013 Some Pictures!

1. Funny face BUT. Me playing some Futbol! haha

2. With my new cleats! Pumped haha. And yes, we play on that cement. haha. Thast behind the church

3. Pardon the angle, but this literally was the best photo we had with ema. It was really sunny haha.

4. Ema with her nephew Yino! He got to baptize her :) It was awesome!!

01/21/2013 More Pictures

1. One day we visited Libeny and it was SO hot that I just stuck my head in the freezer for a little bit hahaha

2. A bunch of Chilenos at a wedding! hahaha

3. Welcome to Chile. Dogs in the plaza... haha

4. I feel like I look a lot older in this pictre. hahaha.

01/14/2013 Hey guyssss

Well heyyyy there! Still here in longavi, just being a missionary and stuff... haha. Ill tell you what, its HOT here in longavi now. Today has actually been nice. It cooled down for a little, but besides that, it got HOTTTT. Camelbak backpack is DEFINITELY coming in handy. Wonderful idea, thank you mom!! BUT. Okay Here comes some updates about the week!

Tuesday morning we woke up and allllll the water in Longavi had been cut off haha. So that was interesting. So we just went through the day normal (minus showering, and other things that require water) because we were told it would be turned back on at 12. So we did studies, went to district class, went to lunch... and FINALLY went back home and got to shower and other things hahaha. I have no idea WHY the water was cut off.... but it was. haha. Also, I forgot to tell you all that we had been teaching this family (not anymore, but before yes) that was Catholic. and I guess when you get baptized in the catholic church you get to get godfathers as well? So anyways we invited this family to be baptized and they said "yeahhh" (thats a not very secure yes answer). but one of their dauthers that is 20 yrs old basically got really excited about the baptism, because she thought it meant she could get a new godfather (apparently her other godfather isnt doing his job too well). So then she asked if we could be her godfathers, and we explained how we dont really do that and its not necessary... but she didnt care. she REALLY wanted Elder Cowden and I to be her godfathers haha. and she never really got the idea... and the family didnt get the idea either that we dont do the godfather thing. hahaha. But so we ended up dropping that family and we dont teach them anymore... but the point is i almost somehow became an unofficial/official godfather of some chilean girl??? hahaha. Luckily we got out of that one way or another.

On Wednesday we did some more exploring way out in La Tercera... and ran into a very interesting fellow... This is a super weird story. Im sorry but its just amazing what some peoples religious beliefs are. ha. So we ran into this guy in a wheelchair at his house. and he was a vendor and sold fruits at his house. So he invited us to come talk to him by yelling at us "Hello youngens! Come here at lets talk about god! The creation, the world, and the mysteries of god!!!" So we thought "ohhhh gosh..." in our heads haha. And so he said alot of interesting things. But the most interesting thing was this: He told us how God has a special patio for certain children in heaven. And that, lets say for example, after this life, Andrea goes to god to be judged, and He asks her "how many children did you have in that life?" And andrea answers "2!" but then He says "No!!! You had 3! David! Come here!" So then david comes running to Him from the patio, and He says "David, THIS was your mother!" 

This old man then explained to us from this example that it is a special patio for children that have been aborted in this life....... and Elder Cowden and I just looked at eachother, and Elder Cowden said "uhh... thats not doctrine at all." and the old man said "yes it is!" Elder Cowden then asked him where its found in the bible. and the man said "uhh... I dont know! But the preacher from my cassette taught me it! And he was fullll of the spirit!!" So then we were just like "oooookay.... well were gonna go now! It was nice to meet you!" hahaha... I am grateful to have the knowledge and understanding about the plan of salvation that I do have... :) Some things that people believe are WHACK.

Thursday!!! On thursday morning Elder Cowden and I had a little roadtrip to Retiro!!! And this time Ema got married!!! Woo hooooo!!! At lasttt!!! A successful marriage! haha. Geez. That took way too long. But, there were about 10 of us, and we all entered into this tiny little registro, entered the room, and they were married! To be honest, it was once again super anti-climactic (sp?) but i am very very very happy for her. I just hope mas adelante her husband can receive the gospel as well and then they can get married in the temple! THAT will be awesome for them :) But so we were very excited and happy about that! So then her baptism was going to be at 4 on saturday...

But remember how i said its been REALLY hot lately? Well for SOME reason... EVERYbody was complaining that the baptism was going to be at 4... because it was going to be hot. Like we were inviting people to the baptism, and they would ask what time, and we would tell them "its at 4!" and they would ALL reply "At that hour?? Ahhh its so hotttt then!" and Elder Cowden and I were dumbfounded. Like seriously. friends and family of Ema didnt want to go, and werent going to go to the baptism, because at 4 o`clock its hot. We just couldnt believe it. Butttt so I made a mistake. At one house with one family friend of Ema, we stopped by to inform them and invite them to the baptism. And they gave us the same reply... "Its so hot at 4!" So Elder Cowden and I just looked at eachother still in amazement, and I then mistakenly asked the question "what do you guys do between 10 in the morning and 4 if its sooo hot???" and Elder Cowden and I thought it was a funny joke... haha But i accidently really offended the family :/ and they got mad and began telling us about how they work in the groves picking fruit all day in the hot sun and start really early, and we couldnt do it, especially in the hot sun, and especially with our "white skin" and "ya dont think we get home tired??" and.... yeah... :/ I felt really bad... So we just apologized a bunch and then just got out of there asap to leave them tranquilo... Oops. I felt really bad/awkward haha...

So that was friday. and then also on friday we had a really weird thing happen. So long story short, the whole mission is out of materials. Like we have lesson 1,2, and 3 pamphlets that we give to people when we meet them... and the whole mission is out of lesson 1 (the most important) and, at least in our house, we were ALSO out of lesson 3 pamphlets. Which leaves us only with lesson 2 pamphelts to give out, "The Plan of Salvation". Which we always jokingly say is for in case on our first visit we meet someone who had a death in the family... Well on friday we only had lesson 2 pamphlets... and we ran into 3 families who had had someone in the family die that day. (it just happened that they were all family members of the person that had died. Not 3 different people haha) and so we were like "wow that nevers happens..." and I said that the Lord knew that Longaví was out of lesson 1 and 3 pamphlets, and that we only had lesson 2 pamphlets... so He had to get rid of someone so we could give out the lesson 2 pamphlets... haha.... Is that a bad joke? haha at least IIII thought it was kind of funny... hahahaha.

Well on saturday we finally had our baptism of Ema!!! Woo hoo! We actually DID end up changing the hour to 8 at night... but not because of the heat haha. It turns out some of them werent going to make it back on time from work to be there at 4, so we changed it to 8! haha. But still, everyone was happy about that because "its not so hot!" So anyway, the baptism turned out great!! I gave a mini talk on baptism, and actually Yino, a recent convert of 5 or 6 months and the nephew of Ema, was able to baptize her!!! So that was way awesome! And he did it perfect!!! We were so happy and excited for all of them. it was a great experience! :) Ema seriously is amazing haha. Shes been going to church and patiently waiting to be married and baptized since 2008. But her husband never wanted to get married. But now he did and Emas prayers and faith and patience finally paid off! She even understood the importance of NOT taking the sacrament during this whole time, and I think she was even most excited to partake of the sacrament on sunday! haha. Shes an amazing example of faith and patience! haha. And it paid off and the blessings came! Woo hoo were excited for her!

Oh yeah, and on sunday I did the confirmation in church too! That was a good experience too. I prepared for that alot different than I have before... And i saw a big difference. It was an awesome experience for me. and I hope it was for ema too haha.

Butttt more than that... Weve been playing soccer alot and I LOVE it. My old shoes are wrecked and DESTROYED now... so actually today I went and bought a pair of shoes to play soccer with haha. Theyre actually soccer cleat-like shoes haha. Hard to explain. I dont have any other shoes though so I might have to get a different regular pair. But Im loving soccer! its way fun. 

Theres been some contentions in our house lately...  Its rough. and awkward haha. Theres alot of pride sometimes and some not so straight thinking or great decision making... haha so its made it somewhat awkward sometimes between the 4 of us.

But! Dont worry, I loveeee being companions with Elder Cowden. Hes reallyyyyy funny and we get along great! The contention isnt between us 2 :P haha. 

Uhhh but more than that... I cant really think of much!! Im loving it here! But my time is running out... Ill probably be leaving from Longaví anytime now... haha like any cambio. THAT will be weird! Im super old here now in Longavi haha. ive been here for almost 6 months! haha. But I love it. Were making lots of changes and different focuses and stuff... Idk hard to explain. But I loveeeee being a missionary! Im still learning SOOOO much new stuff everyday. And I cant wait for what the future holds! I love my mission!!! haha.

I know the church is true, that God loves us, so he gave us a Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ! And that through a prophet called of God, Christ restored his gospel and church here on the earth once again, so that we can be eternally happy, and live with our Heavenly Father again! The church is true!!!!

Love you all and miss you lots!!

-Elder Heyman

01/07/2013 Happy New Year!!!

Happy Birthday to  Kyle!! I hope the Beethoven party came through and went well! Too hilarious hahaha

Welllll Im gonna try and make this a shorter letter because I dont feel too much like typing haha. But! This was a longer week! 

Basically the thing is that we had a two day mini cambio, and I was working in the other side of Longavì, and boyyyyy am i happy to be on my side of longavi hahaha. It was not a fun bike ride out there. Really bumpy and long and other things haha. And also there isnt too much success over there.... haha. so anyways. It was a longgg two days. 

 But it was funny because when Elder cowden and I had gotten back together finally, we both had a rough time during the mini cambios, and we were both like "I missed you!!! Youre the best comp ever!!!" hahaha. Idk it was funny.

New years Eve wasnt bad at all! The worst thing out of all of it was that our neighbor like 5 houses down was blasting music the whole night. But we could only here the bass a tiny bit, so it was bad at all! I actually fell asleep before 12, but then was reawoken because at 12 they turned on the "city alarm". Its basically this really loud horn thing (it sounds like a tornado warning thing... you know what im talking about?) that the fireman here have that goes off everyday at noon. So the whole city knows its noon haha. So anyway i just woke up for a second, thought "heyyyy its 12!" and then fell right back asleep. No problems! I bet you people back home experienced worse than me hahaha.

We played quite a bit of soccer this week for different acitivities and such... and my shoes are torn apart. I have to buy new ones now haha. My left shoe is currently being held together by tape haha. So ill be doing that soon.

We're going to stop the english classes because now that everyone is on summer vacation no one comes! haha. So were stopping that. And also were still having trouble getting anyone to come to the music class... but its good for me to take 30 minutes to at least practice the songs a little bit so i can actually play them the next day haha. So were gonna work on getting SOMEONE to come... 

And the last thing from the past week is that Elder Cowden and I have been having trouble finding new people to teach lately... So we decided to go even FURTHER in La Tercera. So now to contact and teach people were biking for a good striaght 30-35 minutes to get there. haha. But its an AWESOME place! Its really pretty, and theres seems to be lots of families, and its never really been contacted much before since its so far out! and we found a few people in the last part of the week. and people that seem pretty good too! So were really excited. Cuz theres been rumors of putting 2 more missionaries in longavi in the near-ish future. So if it works out here... Hopefully that will help the work along, and more missionaries can arrive in Longavì to help out! :)

So that was the last week! And what were really looking forward to in the upcoming week is the marriage and baptism of Ema!!! Were really excited for her because shes such a good person. She basically IS a member of the church haha. Like shes not even baptized but she knows alot more and participates alot more and everything than cualquier otro miembro. So were really excited for that!! Woohoo!!

Butttttt.... more than that.... nothing really! haha. Im still loving my lax sticks. Its fantastic haha. Anddd... yeah. Idk. Nothing much more from this past week! I love you and miss you all LOTS! Im still continuing to study lots and learn ALOT and work hard and everything. This church is an amazing thing. Iiiii love it. ANd Im loving the work!!

I love you and miss you all! Thank you for the prayers and support! ¡Que este bien! ¡Chau!

Con amor,

Elder Heyman